Horn gate mechanism



sept. s, 1953 Filed July 19, 1950 L. W. WILLIAMSON 'ETAL HORN GATE MECHANISM ,Fu-E 4..-

5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Sept. 8, 1953 HORN GATE MECHANISM Louis W. Williamson, Minneapolis, and Herman Runsberg, Hopkins, Minn., assignors to Minneapolis-Moline Company, Hopkins, Minn., a corporation of Minnesota A Application July 19, 1950, Serial No. 174,752 l 7 Claims. l

. This invention relates generally to improvements in the art of casting small parts such as sprockets and the like, and more specifically to an improved horn gate mechanism for a multiple cavity pattern or mold plate wherein the sand molds are formed. The molds for small parts such as these are customarily made in multiples upon suitably recessed plates and in order to provide the gates for pouring in the molten iron, or other material, horns are arranged to move into andy out of the cavities or recesses as is well known in the art. It will be obvious that pulling these horns fromthe sand must be carried out delicately and quite precisely in order not to disturb the sand and the primary object of our invention is to provide a mechanism for supportingl and simultaneously actuating the horns so that they may be withdrawn from the molds easily and quickly without disturbing the sand and by even the most unskilled operator. K

Another object of our invention is to provide horn gate mechanism for this purpose wherein the horns are carried by swingable members or carriers so that they must move `upondenite arcuate paths into and out kof the mold cavities, thus positively and mechanically avoiding any misalignment or deviation from the proper path such as to disturb the sand.

Another object is to provide a horn gate mechanism of simple and inexpensive construction which may be readily applied to multiple cavity molding or pattern plates and with a reciprocating fluid or compressed air motor means for simultaneously controlling or actuating the gate forming horns.

These and other more detailed and specific objects will be disclosed in the course of the following specication, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. l is a top plan view of a mold or pattern plate'having four mold cavities and showing the tapered and arcuate gate forming horns in position, ready for ramming or packing the sand into the cavities.

Fig. 2 is an inverted or bottom plan view with a corner portion thereof broken away.

. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary irregular cross sectional view along the line 3-3 in Fig. 2 and showing the fiuid motor for operating the horns.

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional View along the line 4 4 in Fig. 2 and showing the horns in the position of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a similar view but showing the horns as withdrawn from the molding cavities.

' A and cooperate with complementary cavities formed in an upper, matching plate (not here shown) which is lowered'over the plate A when the molds are to be blown. lIt will, of course, be understood that wevdo not'limit ourselves to the particular shape and arrangement of the patterns B as shown in the drawing and that our mechanism may be used wherever the cavities are so shaped and so located that a plurality of gate forming horns may be arranged for simultaneous movement into and out of the cavitiesl In accordance with our inventionthe plate A in conjunction with a base frame structure designated generally at l0 constitutes a rame'assembly wherein and whereon the horn gate mechanism may be operatively arranged. As here shown, the base frame I0 comprises an outer rectangular portion I l suitably secured as designated at l2 to the underside of the., plate A and connected'by radial webs I3 to a circular center section I4. Traversing these sections iI-hi of the frame is a cross bar I5 held in place by screws I6 and at v its centerv this cross bar is formed witha socket i7 wherein is secured a vertical guide I8 of square or other rectilinear cross section. The guide I8 Yextends upwardly into a downwardly opening socket I9 formed at the centerand underside of the plate A so that the guide is centered with respect to the patterns B. Formed at the plate A immediately outward ci the upper end of the guide i8, and in, radial alignment with the centers of the cavities B, are horn openings 2i) and the upper surface of the plate is formed with a recess 2i to accommodate an insert plate 22 which is secured over the openings 20 but provided in registry with the openings with upwardly iianged or beaded openings 23. Radially outward of these openings 2li-23 and beneath the patterns B theunderside of the plate A is ,tted with depending apertured hinge lugs 24 to which are pivotally pinned quadrant shaped horn carriers, designated throughout at 25. mounting of the carriers or quadrants 25 permits them to swing beneath the plate in vertical planes extending radially with reference aetib with the location of the corresponding patterns B and the center or upright axis of the guide i8. Arcuate tapered horns 26 are Welded or otherwise rigidly affixed to the inner corner of the carriers 25 and are curved upon an arc struck about the centers of the pins 21'! by which the carriers 25 are hinged. The 'arrangementfurther is such that'these'horns 2E are so dimensioned as to pass through the opening 22-23 and upon inward and upward swinging motion of the carriers 25, from the normaborifinative positions of the parts shown Ain Eig. ythehorns will swing in curved paths' upward andblfltwafd to the position shown. in Fig. fAsQthehorns reach the latter position they will come "to rest upon a part of the patterns B in such fashion as to form a gate in the sandpaclcd-inthefcavities as will be readily understood. It will iurther be noted in Fig. Llithat the horns as they reach this operating. position will close the 4openings '23 inthe insert 2 2 ftofprevent Vany 'loose sand from falling downrir'ito the mechanism.

For the operation `of the horns we provide upon the guide I'B'a verticallymovable slide '28 provided at equally spaced points with apertured ears or lugs 29 to `which are'p'inned' at'30 a Vseries of bell cranks`3l. These bell "cranks have 11pwardly turned bifurcated ends 32 which are-in turnipinned at 33 'to "the'carriers or Y.quadrants v25 at points spaced'fromthepins'l andthe arrangement is thus-obviuslysuchthat downward movementof the slide"28'iroin its normal position of Fig. will p ull downuponthe carriers 25toswing them about their pivots and thrust the horns26 -upwardian'd outward 'to their operating positions. '.The ldeeply"'biurcated ends '32 of the bell cranksprovide clearance of' the lcarriers 25 as they swing from one'positionto `another.

vIt will nowbe understood that'we Ahave provided mechanismv for supporting and' simultaneously actuating curved and"tapered 'horns' 2B in such fashion thatthey may 'be withdrawn from the sand along'a'c'ir'c/lar path "corresponding to their taper and wtho'utsuchdeva'tion'frorn'the path as'to cause a disturbance offthe`sand'and formation of imperfect'mlds. The'completely mechanical support and "operation 'of thehorns removes all possibility 'of "human error, in addition of which the operation is` materially' speeded up due to .thesirnultaneousm'annernwhich the 'horns are actuated,

To further facilitatethe'operation we provide for the necessary upward anddo'wnwardfmovement of the slide'2'8 'bymeansof' a reciprocating fluid motor designated' 'generallyat 3E which may be operated bythe compressedair'usedin' every foundry, under the 'control of a "suitable valve (not shown). As heresliown 'the motorf34 is double acting and vcomprises "'a cylinder 35 -'secured' at a suitable -point between-the inner and outer sections II-l'4 of`the'base frame1 andco'n-v taining a Vvpiston 36 operating "an"upwardlyex tending plunger 31. "A'lever38 Aextendsradigally with respect to the guide 't8 and -at -its inner end is pivotally pinned at '38d' tota "lug 39 formed on the-slide28. Outwardly thereof Lthe-lever-38 is fulcruxnedsatd toa bracket'tfsecuredto the underside of f` the vplate A *and the f outer *end f of the lever `is passed through Jan opening L42 lin the base-frameifsection 44 out over -theplunger 31, to which thelever-isthenl pinned-at 43. Slt will thus be understood that Athe -1 selective admission of' airl orui'd above or below 'fthefpilston se will' rock athe vrever ssanamoveftheasnde 1'zt upwardly and downwardly as necessary to operate the horns 26. Should it be desired to use a single acting fluid motor the entire operating mechanism may be spring loaded in one direction as will be readily understood.

It is understood that suitable modifications j'may be madeinethe structurefas disclosed, provided Vsuch"modifications come within lthe spirit scope of the appended claims. Having now LAtherefore fully illustrated and described our in- 'vlentionpwhat we claim to be new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

Lil-Iornjgate mechanism of the character de- Ss'eribed eomprising a pattern plate having a cen- -terfand afpluralityof patterns arranged in a circle about said center, the plate also having an equal numberof'laorn openings in a circle closer tosaid center and each on a radius from the center to the adjacent pattern, an upright guide located on the 4center of said plate, a slidemovable vupwardly 'and downwardly on "the Lguide, a plurality 'of y*horn :carriers equal *in 'number to 'the patternmmeans pivotaliy*suppcrtingthe carriers for swinging -moverrcents'iin yerti'cal v'and radial 'e planes, horns carried 'by 'the carriers 'and Vswingable therewith from retracted positions'upward `and outward through the-said opemngsand to thepatterns,` and means-A connecting the slide and 'carriersfcr swinging-th'ehorns upon: upward and downward movementsl of the slide. Y

2. Horn gate mechanism of v'the characteri 'described f comprising, fa ipattern -'plate having fra center fand Ya 'plurality off patterns arranged? in1a circlelabout said center;thelplatefaisohavingan equal number Lof horn A openings 'closer `Ato 'said centerfand each-on a radius ffro'm Y the "center'to the adjacent pattern, Y an 'upright' guide -located at the center and* below said'- plate-and -a "slide movable upwardly and downwardly on the guide, a plurality vf'horn carriers equal in 'number to the patterns and located below tlieplate, means pivotally supporting ythe carriers @or swinging movements in vertical/and radial planeshor'ns carriedA by ythe carriers 'and swingable therewith from 'retracted positions upward-and outward through Vthe saidI openings and to the-patterns, and bell-'crank shaped" links pivotallyV connected at opposite ends between the carriers and 2the slide for swinging the carriers 'in unison responsive: to upward and downward movements of the slide.

3."Horn gate mechanismof the character described, comprising 'a gpattern :plate having ya center and a plurality/'of patterns arranged'in a circle aboutfsaid center,theplate also having an egual number of horn openings'clcserto said center-and each on a radius :from the'center to the adjacentpattern'an 'upright guide located at the center and belows'ai'd plate and asli'de movable upwardly'an'd downwardly on the guide, v9....1'plura1ity of horn .carriers edualin number to the ,patterns and located belowthe plateymeans pivotally supporting Vthe carriers for 'swinging movement in vertical and radial "planes, horns carried by thecarriersand -swngable'therewith from retracted positions upward and outward through the lsaid openings'an'dto"thepatterns, means connecting'the carriers'and siide 'together for swingin'g'the'carrers and horns uponupward and downward movements-of the slide, a 1 reciprocating iiuid motor mountedlonthe plateland aleverconnectingLthebmtorand slide rorlmoving the slide upward and downward ronthelguide.

-l4. Horn 'gatemechanism` oftheffcliaracterldescribed, comprising-'1a @pattern 'fp'late Ha.

center and a plurality of patterns arranged in a circle about said center, the plate also having an equal number of horn openings closer to said center and each on a radius from the center to the adjacent pattern, an upright guide located at the center and below said plate and a slide movable upwardly and downwardly on the guide, a plurality of horn carriers equal in number to the patterns and located below the plate, means pivotally supporting the carriers for swinging movements in vertical and radial planes, horns carried by the carriers and swingable therewith from retracted positions upward and outward through the said openings and to the patterns, means connecting the carriers and slide together for swinging the carriers and horns upon upward and downward movements of the slide, a reciprocating lluid motor mounted below the plate and having a reciprocating plunger, and a lever ful- I crumed between its ends to the plate and pivoted at its ends to the plunger and the slide for moving the latter on the guide.

5. Horn gate mechanism of the character described, comprising a pattern plate having a center and a series of patterns arranged in a circle about that center, said plate having an equal number of horn openings located around its center, a base frame having a rectangular outer section and a circular center section centered on the said plate center, a series of quadrant-shaped horn carriers equal in number to the patterns located below the plate within said center section of the base frame, means pivotally mounting each carrier for swinging movements in a radial plane with respect to the plate center, a horn carried by each carrier and swingable therewith from a retracted position outward and upward through the adjacent horn opening to the adjacent pattern, a cross member on the base frame and an upright center guide thereon, a slide movable up and down on the guide, and bell-crank shaped links pivotally connecting the slide to the carriers for swinging the carriers and horns upon upward and downward movements of the slide.

6. Horn gate mechanism of the character described, comprising a pattern plate having a center and a series of patterns arranged in a circle about that center, a base frame having a rectangular outer section and a circular center section centered on the said plate center, the plate also having a horn opening located inwardly of each pattern, a series of quadrantshaped horn carriers equal in number to the patterns located below the plate within said center section of the base frame, means pivotally mounting each carrier for swinging movements in a radial plane with respect to the plate center, a horn carried by each carrier and swingable therewith from a retracted position outward and upward through the adjacent horn opening to the' adjacent pattern, a cross member on the base frame and an upright center guide thereon, a slide movable up and down on the guide, link means pivotally connecting the slide to the carriers for swinging the carriers and horns upon upward and downward movements of the slide, a fluid motor located between the rectangular and circular sections of the base frame, and a fulcrumed lever connecting the fluid motor and slide.

7. Horn gate mechanism of the character described, comprising a pattern plate having a center and a plurality of patterns arranged in la circle about said center, the plate also having an equal number of horn openings closer to said center and each on a radius from the center to the adjacent pattern, an upright guide located at the center and below said plate and a slide movable upwardly and downwardly on the guide, a plurality of horn carriers equal in number to the patterns and located below the plate, means pivotally supporting the carriers for swinging movements in vertical and radial planes, horns carried by the carriers and swingable therewith from retracted positions upward and outward through the said openings and to the patterns, means connecting the slide and carriers for swinging the horns upon upward and downward movements of the slide, and an insert plate at the center of the lpattern plate and having a series of smoothly beaded openings registering with the horn openings in the pattern plate to tightly t the horns when they are moving upward therethrough.

LOUIS W. WILLIAMSON. HERMAN RUNSBERG.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 459,103 Adams Sept. 8, 1891 1,371,447 Snow Mar. 15, 1921 2,484,646 Renkenberger Oct. 11, 1949 

